Montana Pollution
Prevention Program

Sustainable Housing & Pollution Prevention Coordinator:

Jenny Grossenbacher

What if your school could reduce environmental impacts, improve learning conditions and lower operating costs, all at the same time? The MSU Extension Housing and Environmental Health Program has developed the Healthy and Safe Schools Kit to help schools create a healthy environment.

Did you know?

One out of 13 school-age children have asthma. Asthma is the leading reason children are absent from school.

Twenty-five percent of the chemicals used in schools are classified as hazardous chemicals.

Poor indoor air quality can impact the comfort and health of students and staff, which, in turn, can affect concentration, attendance, and performance.

The environmental improvement strategies in the Healthy and Safe Schools Kit has been organized into several categories, including:

Green Cleaning

School Chemical Clean Outs

Waste Reduction

Energy Conservation

Clean air

Integrated Pest Management

The Healthy and Safe Schools Kit offers tips and resources to help schools identify opportunities to "green" their buildings and operations, conserve energy, reduce waste, and improve air quality. The emphasis has been placed on prevention-oriented strategies, which are preferable to dealing with wastes and pollutants after the fact.

Healthy and Safe Schools Webinar Series
The Peaks to Prairies Pollution Prevention Information Center recently hosted a 6-part webinar series. The presentations are available for viewing on the Peaks to Prairies website.